Hayrack



July 11, 1950 E. J. NECHVILLE ETAL 2,514,785

HAY RACK Filed Sept. 16, 1947 Inventors Edwin J. Nechw'l/e William J.Fall/s and Patented July 11,1950

HAYRACK EdwinJ. Necliville, Cedar Rapids, and H William J. Faltis,Fairfax, Iowa 7 Application September 16, 1947, Serial No. 774,244

The present invention relates to a novelv and improved load supportingand conveying rack which is especially, but not necessarily; adapted foruse on and in connection with farm wagons and the purpose of theinvention is to expedite handling and carrying of baledfodder or forage,particularly baled hay, baled straw, baled corn fodder and the like,over any type of ground and to'keep'the load in substantially intacttransportable shape despite the fact thatthe terrain traversed is roughand uneven.

[There are many different types of so-called racks, decks and the likeused removably on farm wagons for hay loading and transporting purposesand some, perhaps the majority; are of wooden construction and othersare of all metal construction and include imperforate sheet metal floorsforming the platform proper. For example a hayrack with an under frameand metal floor construction is shown in a patentto W. A. Hunt 1,046,069of December 3, 1912. The purpose of the instant invention is to improveupon the patent here stated and others in the same field of inventionand, in so doing, to provide a novel rack construction the chieffeatures of which are as follows:

' l. ,First, the overall weight of our improvedconstruction is less thanthe conventional wood or steelracks; hence, it is easier to lift and'cancarry a larger load with the same pullingpower. Secondly, it is strongerand more stable than the ordinary types'of racks and, therefore, cancarry aJarger load and eliminate many unnecessary trips from collectionpoint to discharge point. Thirdly, it will not split, break, bend, rotor easily deteriorate because of its all metal welded construction.Fourth, it can be used as a complete unit in and of itself utilizing theskid feature of the main channels or it can be placed on a rwagon frameas, a rack-type deck. Fifth, it can be used either close to the groundwhen on the skids, or elevated to the height of conventional wagondecks, when on a wagon frame. Sixthxthe deck or platform of the rack isthe non-slip feature which is asafety factor in that the products hauledcannot readily shift either forward, backward or sidewise. Consequently,a -farm wagon with our rack can traverse rough terrain with less danger.to the person working en the "ground near the wagon as well as to theperson working on the wagon.

1 More specifically. and structurally, novelty is predicated upon anopen work frame construction which is characterized by a pair of spacedparalleland opposed channel irons connected at their 1 opposite'outerends to -transverse frame members; the opposite outer ends of said framemembers being connected by angle irons and forming a sort of rectangularframe work with the channel irons in between, there being rein- [-2Claims (01. 296-8) forcing-and spacing members between "the, open sidesof the respective channel irons, anda plurality of right and leftgusset-like extensions on outer sides of the center irons, these beingconnected together with the horizontal rod members to provide a rigidframe structure.

Another point of novelty, from a structural and functional standpoint,is the open-work grating which goes to provide the floor which issuperimposed upon the frame structure and which is preferably made up ofmetal lathing, whereby to provide a floor which effectively supports theload and keeps same from shifting and sliding 'undesirably out of place.

Another object of the invention is to provide. a structure of the typedescribed which may be bodily detached from the farm wagon and used as adrag or sled and pulled along the surface independently to assist intransporting whatever the farmer desires.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed throughout the same:i l

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a structure embodying the features andadvantages of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional .view disclosing one longitudinalside of the structure seen in Figure 1; and i Figure 3 is a section onthe line 33-of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring nowto the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals itwill be seen that the essential part of the open style frame or framework is characterized by a pair of longitudinal stringers or main beamsand these are denoted by the numerals 5 and 6. Connected to the forwardand rear ends of said main beams .5 and '6 are forward and rear framemembers 1 and 8 and the end portions 9 are tapered as shown. These endportions 9 project well beyond the beams 5 and 6 in opposite directionsand serve as suitable supports and anchors for the end portions ofspaced parallel angle irons I0 and H. Incidentally, as shown in Figure3, the'top flanges of the main beams are denoted by the numerals [2, theweb portions at [3 and the bottom horizontal flanges at"! 4. The flangesl4 constitute runners and serve to contact the ground when the device isused as a sled or drag and pulled, in direct contact with the ground;for load handling and transporting purposes. It is also to be noted, asshown in full lines in Figure-1 and Figure 2 and in dotted lines inFigure 3,'that the beams are providedfwith outstanding pairsof lugs [5which are adapted to engage stakes on the co-acting bolster (not shown)to hold a frame structure on the chassis of the farm wagon. The

numerals l6 designate a series of three crosspieces or spacers which fitbetween the respective main beams 5 and 6 and serve to rigidly assemblesame. These cross-pieces have reinforcingfianges l1. Then, too, it is tobe noted that the lower edge portions of the cross pieces it are spacedslight distances above the runner-flanges l of the channel irons andthese spaces are adapted to permit fiat imperforate plates (not shown)to be fitted into the spaces thus provided. These plates, obviously,serve to span the spacebetwe'en the respective channel irons and-.toprevent the accumulation of mud and dirt and obviously, make moreeffective the unobstructed movement of the runner-flanges M over thesurface traversed; The: numeralsv t8- and: IQ- designate left and: rightgnsset-likez extensions or reinforcing m'embers'and: these extendlaterally beyond the: web=portions of the. respective main beams and areattached at their outer ends to the angle irons: l0. These members: it.and t9 are also formed. with bent flanges: 28. for reinforcing purposes.

The forward cross member 8 is provided with suitably constructed andmounted hitching. rings 21 and any suitable sou-roe of power may behooked thereto for dragging. the entire structure over the groundfor-loadtoti'ng' purposes- The. numerals 2'2. designate: forward and.rear fences which may be employed. on. the frame structure-,ifi desired.These are optional features and include: uprights 23" and cross pieces24 between. the. uprights; The uprights are hingeclly mounted. as at.2.5 between. hinging. ears provided therefor as at. 26.

One of the outstanding features of the: invention. as: statedi'hasi todowith the floor construction. and thiSi is. of. an. open grille type andsections; thereof. are. shown in Figure l. and denoted by the: numerals221. This floor is actually metal lathing and is sufficiently strong to:support the load, under ordinary circumstances. It has been suggested:that instead of entirely covering, the whole upper side of theframestructure; all ofsaid structure may be covered except the topflanges; I-2 of: the channel. irons: and these could then be used, inpractice, as catwalks.

A. careful consideration of the foregoingdescription in conjunction withthe; invention as illustrated in the drawings. will. enable the readerto. obtain a clear understanding. and impression of the allegedfeaturesof merit and novelty sufficient to clarify the construction of theinvention as: hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in: shape, size, materials. and rearrangement ofparts;maybe. resorted toin actual practice so! long as no departure is. madefromthe invention as claimed...

Having described. the invention, claimed as new is:

1.. Ahayrack of the class shownand described comprising an open typeframe-work, embodying; apair ofdupl-icate; channel irons, said. channelirons being disposed in. spaced parallelism with: their open sidesfacing each other, transversely disposed. front and rear frame membersdisposed in a plane with and rigidly, connected intermediate their endsto the'opposite end portions of. said channel irons,,the oppositeendlportions of said members being reduced in width with the underneath.edges slanting upwardly and outwardly, said end portion projecting atright angles. beyond. said. angle irons, and. longitudinal what I isstringers also in a plane with the top ortions of the channel irons andfront and rear frame members and of lengths equal to the lengths of thechannel irons, a reticulated floor construction embodying a centralsection situated between the respective channel irons and of a lengthcorresponding with the length of the channel irons, complemental outerfloor sections mounted between the stringers, channel irons andtransverse front and rear frame members, the respective sections of thefloor being spaced from each other to expose the upper flanges of thechannel irons, permitting said flanges to serve as catwalks.

2. A hayrack of the class shown and described comprising an open: typeframe-Work. embodying a pair of duplicate channel irons, saidchannelirons-being disposed. in spaced. parallelism. with their open sidesfacing each. other, transversely disposed. front and. rear frame membersdisposed ina plane: with and rigidly connected intermediate their endswith the opposite end portions of said channel. irons, the opposite endportions of: said. members. being reduced in width with theunderneathedges slanting. upwardly and outwardly, said end portions. projecting atright angles beyond said angle. irons, longitudinal stringers also in aplane with the top portions of. the channel irons. and front and rearframe members andof. lengths equal to. the lengths of the channel irons,a. reticulated floor construction. embodying a. central. sectionsituated be tween the. respective channel irons. and of a: length.corresponding with the length of the channel irons, complemental' outerfloor sections mounted between the stringers, channel. irons andtransverse. front and rearv frame; members, the; respective sections ofthe floor being spaced from each. other to expose the upper flanges ofthe channel irons, permitting said flanges; to serve as catwalks, andlongitudinally spaced transversely disposed spacing, and reinforcingmembers located betweenv the channel irons and having, their endportlonsifitting between the horizontal top and bottom flanges, thelower edges of said spacin members being spaced upwardly from the lowerflanges to provide ways;

and means whereby an: insertable and remov able plate may be employed asa cover' and to permit the lower horizontal flanges to serve effectivelyas ground-engaging runners;

EDWIN" J NEGHVHLEZ WILLIAM J.

REFERENCES.

The following references are of. record" in the file of this patent?UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 7635;085 Lanpher July 1'2}. 19.04861,838- Heber July 30,. 1967' 1,046,069 Hunt Dec: 3-,.1912 1 ,l63 ,8-2IHetzner Deer. 1.4-, L915 1 ,259,403 Hunt2 n .Mar;.12, 1918 1,652,069Travis; Jn. Dem. 6;, 192'! 1,831,927: Travis-g. Jr. 22,, 1931 2222335Dietrich Nova 19, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 491,966 GreatBritain: Sept. 12, 193i;

